NPA ready to counter anti-peace AFP offensives

LEGAZPI CITY, 15March2017 (BicolToday.com) – New People’s Army (NPA) is ready to confront and counter the offensives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) according to its spokesperson Ka Oris.

“This is in order to defend the people, especially thepeasant masses and minority groups, from the abuses being perpetrated by the AFP,” Ka Oris said.

The National Operations Command (NOC) awaits instructions from the central leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on the matter of the reinstatement of the unilateral ceasefire declarations.

This progress was a result of March 12 Joint Statement issued by the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels declaring a continuation of peacenegotiations.

“Since GRP President Duterte’s order last March 9 to “flatten the hills”, the AFP has become even more frenzied in its crazed war against the people,” Ka Oris added.

Last Saturday, March 11, the AFP conducted aerial strikes against Barangay Cabuyuan in Mabini, Compostela Valley.

It employed at least three MG-520helicopter gunships to drop no less than 10 bombs, even as ground troops fired their machine guns. At least 75 families (200 individuals) were forced toevacuate.

For two days now, the AFP has conducted aerial bombing runs in Barangays Gawang, Tee and Andavit in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, using FA-50 jetfighters and MG-520helicopter gunships. At least 3,000 families in Maguindanao have been forced to evacuate their homes to escape the bombings and militarization of theircommunities.

Since February, the AFP has been conducting aerial bombings against peasant communities including those in Laak, Compostela Valley; in Bansalan, Davao delSur; in Asuncion, Davao del Norte; in Fatima, Davao City; in Alabel, Sarangani and elsewhere. Thousands have been forced to evacuate as a result.

The AFP hasalso threatened to conduct aerial bombing in Assipulo, Ifugao and Maddela, Quirino forcing hundreds of families to evacuate.

Over the past few weeks, no less than fifteen peasants have been killed by AFP troops and other state agents in Antipolo, Rizal; San Andres, Quezon; Maayon,Capiz; in Compostela and Maragusan in Compostela Vally; Arakan, North Cotabato; in Davao City and other places.

Peasant Ian Borres suffered 34 gunshot wounds in an operation conducted by the 61st IB in their village in Maayon, Capiz last February 24.

On March 2, armedstate agents killed anti-mining peasant activists Leonela and Ramon Pesadilla in their home in Compostela.

Last March 9, AFP soldiers rounded up 200 residents from Barangay Caylaway, Nasugbu, Batangas and forcibly brought them to Sitio Balagbag, Elementary Schoolwhere they were subjected to interrogations by AFP troops.

According to Ka Oris, these abuses by AFP soldiers are the reasons why the people continue to join and support the New People’s Army. As such, it is the obligation of the NPA tocounter the AFP’s frenzied war against the people.

The NPA calls on the AFP commander-in-chief Duterte to restrain the AFP and command it to stop its acts of state terrorism against the people in order to prepare the ground for a meaningful ceasefire in line with the continuation of peace talks. [BicolToday.com]

Posted by BicolToday.com
on March 15, 2017. Filed under Nation,Top Stories.
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